Cowboys to cut big names Barber, Williams, Davis

With eye on cap, Barber, Williams among those out

Published 5:30 am, Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Marion Barber had career lows last season in several statistical categories and became expendable with the drafting of Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray.

Marion Barber had career lows last season in several statistical categories and became expendable with the drafting of Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray.

Photo: Karen Warren, Chronicle

Cowboys to cut big names Barber, Williams, Davis

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A younger, fiscally leaner team will begin training camp today after the Cowboys reportedly informed running back Marion Barber, right guard Leonard Davis and wide receiver Roy Williams on Tuesday that they will be released from their contracts.

Kicker Kris Brown was also told he would be cut when the league allows teams to officially release players Thursday.

The moves free up about $16.6 million in salary cap room, positioning the Cowboys to dive into the frenzied, post-lockout free-agent pool.

"We can get well under the cap and we plan to and still sign any players we want to," owner Jerry Jones told reporters in Irving. "Before the day is over, we will have contact with any player we have an interest in."

The Cowboys will get camp underway today with physicals, meetings and conditioning work. The first open-to-the-public practice will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Alamodome in San Antonio and the first practice in pads won't be until this weekend.

Prior to the lockout, the Cowboys said that re-signing left tackle Doug Free, now an unrestricted free agent, would be their top priority. On Tuesday, Free was one of the first players Jones spoke with at Valley Ranch.

Aided by the cuts of the trio of Barber, Davis and Williams, the team could re-sign Free and potentially left guard Kyle Kosier, safety Gerald Sensabaugh and its draft picks, including first-round offensive tackle Tyron Smith.

The Cowboys could get further under the roughly $120 million cap by restructuring contracts of wide receiver Miles Austin, quarterback Tony Romo and linebacker DeMarcus Ware.

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Right tackle Marc Colombo, expected to be replaced by Smith, told reporters he also could be gone. If that's the case, the Cowboys would free up more than $2 million, with the option to re-sign him at a cheaper price.

Barber had career lows last season in several statistical categories and became expendable with the drafting of Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray. Felix Jones emerged as the club's No. 1 back and should again be atop the depth chart.